Fire-escape



.(NofMpdeL) 1 W. AVWOODKZ E. ROSS.

FIRE ESCAPE}.

" No. 514,802; Patented 61). 13; "1894."

WITNESSES WEBSTER A. WOOD ANDYEBENEZER ROSS, OF NORTHVILLE, MICHIGAN.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,802, dated February13, 1 894.

Application filed July 17, 1893. Serial No. 480,697. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that We, WEBSTER A. WOOD and EBENEZER Ross citizens of theUnited States, residing at Northville, in the county of parts as fullyhereinafter set forth, the essential features of which being pointed outparticularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable device of thischaracter, that may be conveniently carried, and by the employment ofwhich a speedy and safe escape from a burning building may be effected;This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated.

in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view ofour improved device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through Fig. 2. Referring to the letters ofreference,A and B designate semi-circular frames, respectively, whichare provided with the handles 17 at one end, and at the other end withthe opposed jaws d, d, all of which parts are formed integral with theirrespective frames. The extreme ends of said jaws are hinged together bymeans of a pin a passing through the extended ears e of jaw d, andthrough the end of jaw d which is embraced by said ears,the adjacentfaces of said jaws being provided with registering undulations formed oftransverse elevations and depressions, adapted to mesh or fit one intothe other, as said jaws are brought together by the contraction of thehandles b.

O designates a spool or reel embraced by said semi-circular frames,'andadapted to contain the wire or metallic cable a which is wound thereon,said spool being fast on a shaft D, journaled at each end in the curvedcross-pieces f secured to the frame A, whereby said spool is adapted tofreely revolve within said frames. The cable from said spool passesoutward between the jaws d, d and is adapted to be engaged by theopposed undulative surfaces thereof as said jaws .are brought together,to place the required tension upon said cable.

E designates a strap which is adapted to pass around the body of aperson and by means of which, they are supported in the act ofdescending, the ends of said strap being attached to the frames A, B.

In the employment of this device in efiecb ing an escape from a burningbuilding, or in making a descent from an elevation, the hook it on thefree end of the cable is securely fastened to a fixed object and thestrap E placed around the body just below the arms. This brings thedevice in front of the operator, so that the handles b may be readilygrasped by the hands and the descent perfectly regulated by forcing thejaws together, so' as to cramp the cable between the undulative facesthereof, as shown by stipple lines in Fig. 3, thereby placing suchtension on the cable as to enable the operator to descend at any desiredspeed and with perfect safety. The ends of the supporting strap E beingfastened to the hinged frames, the tendency thereof when supporting aweight will be to draw said frames together and thereby contract thejaws upon the cable, so that, should a person in descendin g become toofrightened to operate the handles b, the weight upon the strap willcause said jaws to grip the cable with such force as to prevent toorapid a descent.

Whenit is desired to lower a number of persons with one device, thestrap E is at tached to the Window frame or other fixed object, and thehook it on the cable secured to a rope or other suitable support aroundthe person to be lowered, the device being operated from above tocontrol the descent. After a descent has been made, the cable is rewoundonto the spool by means of a crank adapted to receive the square end ofthe spoolshaft, so as to enable another descent being made, and so onuntil all have been lowered,

the last person descending in the ordinary way.

Having thus fully set forth our invention, what we claim as new,.anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fire escape, the combination of the reel, the cable woundthereon, the semi-circular frames in which said reel is journaled, saidframes having the opposed extended jaws between which said cable passesand which are hinged together at their upper ends, and the dependinghandles formed integral with said frames for contracting said jaws uponthe cable.

2. In a fire escape, the combination of the reel, the cable woundthereon, the frames in which said reel is journaled, said frames havingthe opposed extended jaws pivoted together at their upper ends andprovided with the meshing undnlated faces between which said cablepasses and the integral handles extending from said frames forcontracting said jaws upon said cable.

3. In a fire escape, the combination of the reel, the cable woundthereon, the hinged semi-circular frames in which said reel is journaled, said frames. having the opposed jaws between which said cablepasses, the handles for contracting said jaws and the strap attached atits ends to the outer face of said frames.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

WEBSTER A. WOOD. EBENEZER ROSS.

I Witnesses:

E. S. HORTON, GRACE F. LoWDEN.

